Method for converting, navigating and displaying video content uploaded from the internet to a digital TV video-on-demand platform

ABSTRACT

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

This U.S. patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/909,192 filed on Jul. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,590,997 by the same inventor, entitled “System and Method forManaging, Converting and Displaying Video Content on a Video-on-DemandPlatform, Including Ads Used for Drill-Down Navigation &Consumer-Generated Classified Ads”.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to the provision of video content toviewers through digital TV infrastructure, and more particularly, toconverting, navigating and displaying video content uploaded from theInternet on a digital TV video-on-demand platform.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Cable television (CATV) systems are used to deliver television servicesto a vast majority of TV-viewing homes in the U.S. and othertechnologically advanced countries. The typical CATV system has a cableservice provider head end equipped with video servers to transmit CATVprogram signals through distribution cable lines to local nodes and fromthere to TV subscriber homes. Within the subscriber homes, the CATVinput TV line is connected to one or more customer-premises TVs whichare coupled to external set-top boxes for channel tuning or are equippedwith internal cable channel tuners. CATV service providers employ thespacious 1 GHz bandwidth of the typical cable (RG-6) line to carry tensof analog TV channels in the portion of the cable bandwidth allocated toanalog TV signals. With digital multiplexing methods such as QAM,hundreds of digital TV signals can be carried simultaneously in theportion of the cable bandwidth allocated to digital TV signals. Cable TVservice providers have also allocated portions of the cable bandwidthfor user (return) data, broadband data connection, and voice-over-IP(VoIP) digital telephone service.

Cable TV service providers generally offer subscribers to subscribe toany of several tiers of bundled TV services on a scale with increasingrates in accordance with signal quality, TV program offerings, and typesof interactive services. Digital TV services are offered throughadvanced digital set-top boxes that are individually addressable fromthe CATV head end, and also allow subscribers various interactivefunctions with the CATV head end via inputs to the set-top box via theremote control unit for transmission on the return data path to the CATVhead end.

A recent type of interactive television service offered on digital TVsystems is referred to generally as a “video-on-demand” (VOD) system,wherein a viewer can navigate through a program guide via the remotecontrol unit and send a request via the set-top box for a desired videoprogram to be addressed from the head-end to the subscriber's set-topbox for display on the TV. Different types of VOD programs are typicallybundled as a package and offered on different VOD “channels”. Forexample, a VOD “channel” can offer on-demand movies and videos, replaysports events, infomercials, advertisements, music videos,short-subjects, and even individual TV “pages”. VOD-based interactivetelevision services generally allow a viewer to use the remote controlto cursor through an on-screen menu and select from a variety of titlesfor stored video programs for individual viewing on demand. Advancedremote control units include button controls with VCR-like functionsthat enable the viewer to start, stop, pause, rewind, or replay aselected video program or segment. In the future, VOD-based interactivetelevision services may be integrated with or delivered with otheradvanced interactive television services, such as webpage browsing,e-mail, television purchase (“t-commerce”) transactions, and multimediadelivery.

Digital cable TV is currently the most prevalent system for offeringdigital TV services to home TV subscribers. However, other types ofdigital carriers offering broadband connections to subscriber homes haveentered into competition with cable TV providers by offering digital TVservices over their broadband connections. Examples of other broadbandconnections include DSL telephone lines, local area broadband networks,and wireless broadband networks. Digital television services offered onsuch broadband connections employ the TCP/IP data transport protocol andare referred to as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). Instead ofmulti-casting all TV program signals into a cable line, the typical IPTVsystem will respond to a subscriber's request for a particular TVchannel or video program by transmitting the video content individuallyto the subscriber's individually addressable, digital set top box athigh speeds. IPTV and digital cable TV both transmit digital video inpacketized data streams within closed, proprietary broadband systems;however, IPTV uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to structure, route anddeliver the digital video packets within an IPTV system.

With the increasing interactive functionality and customer reach ofinteractive television services, advertisers and content providers arefind it increasingly attractive to employ on-demand advertising,on-demand program content, and on-demand TV transactions for homeviewers. VOD content delivery platforms are being designed to seamlesslyand conveniently deliver a wide range of types of advertising, videocontent, and transaction services on demand to home viewers. VOD contentofferings are expected to increase dramatically from a few “channels”with a few score or hundred “titles” listed on each today to scores orhundreds of channels with thousands if not millions of titles on each inthe foreseeable future. The VOD platform thus offers a gateway forgreatly expanding TV viewing from a relatively small number ofstudio-produced program channels to a large number of new commercialpublishers and ultimately a vast number of self-publishers or so-called“citizen” content publishers. It is deemed desirable to find a way forsuch vast numbers of content publishers to transmit their programs tothe home TV, and to enable home TV viewers to find something of interestfor viewing among the vast numbers of new programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a method for converting,navigating and displaying video content via a video-on-demand (VOD)platform of a digital TV service provider comprises:

(a) uploading video content in a digital video format via an onlinenetwork to a Web-based content management server of the VOD platform ofthe digital TV service provider, along with a title and a hierarchicaladdressing tag of hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategoriesfor categorizing the title for the video content;

(b) converting the content uploaded to the Web-based content managementserver into a standard TV digital format and storing a “local instance”thereof at a video ID (VID) address in a video content database of theVOD platform, wherein the VID address is linked to the metadata titlefor the video content;

(c) listing the title of the video content in an electronic programguide of the VOD platform following the same hierarchically-arrangedcategories and subcategories as the hierarchical addressing tag of thevideo content;

(d) providing a TV subscriber, having a TV-connected set-top boxaddressable by the digital TV service provider, with access to theelectronic program guide for navigating through thehierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories therein in order tofind the title of the video content; and

(e) upon the subscriber selecting, via a remote control unit incommunication with the set-top box, the title of the video content fromthe hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories of theelectronic program guide, then transmitting a return request for theselected title to the VOD platform for retrieving the video contentstored at the linked VID address in the video content database of theVOD platform, and transmitting the video content to the subscriber'sset-top box for display on the subscriber's TV.

By the method of the present invention, video content can be publishedfor viewing on home TV with any digital TV service provider by uploadingfrom any node or publishing site on the Internet to the provider'sWeb-based content management server. The title of the program becomesautomatically listed in the electronic program guide (EPG) following thesame hierarchical categorization addressing indicated by the publisherof the content. Typically, the publisher will select the categories andsubcategories for categorizing the title of the video content from astandard categorization hierarchy used by the digital television serviceprovider for listing titles to be offered on its VOD platform. With thismethod, vast numbers of content publishers anywhere on the Internet canupload their programs to digital television service providers forviewing on the home TV, and home TV viewers can readily find somethingof interest for viewing among the vast numbers of new programs bynavigating through the hierarchical addressing scheme of the provider'sEPG.

In particular, the invention method provides a convenient andsubstantially automatic vehicle for bringing large numbers of newblogging and podcasting-like programs to TV viewing. Such a blogging orpodcasting-like program is typically presented in the video content by a“host” or “celebrity” who has been identified, or can be voted on byviewers, as a popular “Host”. The Host acts as a filter, reviewer,rater, and/or analyst to bring information of value to viewers from theplethora of content populating the viewing landscape. The Host can alsoserve to link the viewer to other Host programs or other VOD-listedprograms, for example, by on-screen directing of the viewer to a menu ofoptions selectable by corresponding option keys on the remote controlunit. As an added feature, the EPG can be configured to enable a viewerto store bookmarks for desired VOD-listed TV programs for viewing againor with friends. The viewer's bookmarks can also be shared with othersubscribers via an on-screen Contact List maintained for each viewer,and/or shared with others online by the provider enabling transmissionof the bookmark data from the VOD platform to the viewer's email addressor other online address.

The capability for Internet uploading and automatic listing in any VODEPG opens VOD programming to a greatly expanded field of non-studio TVprogram publishers. The digital TV service provider can charge programplacement fees that are paid by the publisher, advertiser, and/orsponsor. With future expansion of VOD “channel” capacity, the system canbe opened to “citizen” publishers and paid for by program advertisers orsponsors and/or by viewer “Premium (VOD) Services” fees.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention are described in further detail below in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagram of an overall architecture for a VOD ContentDelivery System in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1B showsan example of templatized Drill-Down Ad navigation, and FIG. 1C shows anexample of the templatized ad display model.

FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram of the overall architecture of aClassified Ad application for the VOD Content Delivery System, FIG. 2Billustrates a Content Management Website for the Classified Adapplication, FIG. 2C illustrates a Content Screening Component of thesystem, and FIG. 2D illustrates a Content Feed and Conversion Componentsof the system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a VOD Content Delivery System adapted to InternetProtocol TV (IPTV) system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process flow for enabling contentpublishers on the Internet to upload video content to digital televisionservice providers for viewing on the home TV.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a blogging orpodcasting-like program presented by a “Host” with layered topics andlinks to other programs.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the logic flow for using an EPG toenable a viewer to store TV bookmarks for desired VOD-listed TVprograms.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of sharing TV bookmarks withother TV subscribers via an on-screen Contact List maintained for theviewer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of sharing TV bookmarks withothers on the Internet by transmission of bookmark data to the viewer'semail address.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The following description describes one preferred embodiment forimplementation of the invention in which the digital television serviceprovider is one employing cable TV infrastructure. However, it is to beunderstood that the principles of the invention are equally applicableto other types of digital television service providers offering digitalTV services over other broadband connections such as DSL telephonelines, local area broadband networks, and wireless broadband networks.Similarly, certain examples of VOD applications are described herein,e.g., advertisements that are navigated in “drill-down” fashion, and theuploading of consumer-generated classified ads to be viewed as TVclassified ads. However, many other types of video content may be usedin programming with this system.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an overall system architecture for a VOD contentdelivery system includes a VOD Application Server 10 located at a CableHead End. The VOD Application Server manages a Database 11 of templatesand video content segments from Video Server 12 for generatingtemplatized VOD content. The VOD content is generated in response to aviewer request signal transmitted from the Digital Set Top Box 21 of aviewer's TV equipment through the Digital Cable Television System 13 tothe VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. The VOD ApplicationServer 10 may be of the type which enables any compatibly-developed VODapplications to be loaded on and operated on the server. An example ofsuch a VOD Application Server is the Navic N-Band™ server, offered byNavic Systems, Inc., d/b/a Navic Networks, of Needham, Mass. This is anintegrated system which provides an application development platform forthird party application developers to develop new VOD serviceapplications, viewer interfaces, and ancillary interactive services fordeployment on VOD channels of CATV operators in cable service areasthroughout the U.S. A detailed description of the Navic N-Band system iscontained in U.S. Patent Application 2002/066,106, filed on May 30,2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Templates for displaying VOD content are created at an Application DataCenter 30 and stored in the Database 11 for use by the operative VODapplication. The templates may be designed, for example, to presentvideo ad content displays in a logo frame, or to provide navigationbuttons and viewer selection options in a frame around currentlydisplayed video content. In the preferred embodiment described ingreater detail below, the templates are used to provide navigation aidsin a series of progressively more focused ad display types. A VideoContent Encoder 31 is used to encode raw video feeds into formattedvideo content segments compatible with the VOD platform and supply themthrough a Video Content Distribution Network 14 to the Video Server 12.

In operation, the VOD Application Server 10 operates a VOD applicationfor the CATV system, for example, “automobile infomercials on demand”.The viewer sends a request for selected VOD content, such as to see aninfomercial on a specific model type made by a specific automanufacturer, by actuating a viewer request signal by a key press on theviewer's remote control unit transmitting an IR signal to the Set TopBox 21 that is sent on a back channel of the Digital Cable TelevisionSystem 13 to the VOD Application Server 10 at the Cable Head End. Inresponse to the signal, the VOD Application Server 10 determines the VODcontent being requested and retrieves the infomercial ad displaytemplate from the Template Database 11 and video content segment fromthe Video Server 12, in order to generate the corresponding templatizedVOD content. In the invention, the templates are of different typesordered in a hierarchy, and display of content in a template of a higherorder includes links the viewer can select to content of a lower orderin the hierarchy. Upon selecting a link using the remote control, theVOD Application Server 10 retrieves the template and video content oflower order and displays it to the viewer. Each successive templatizeddisplay may have further links to successively lower levels of contentin the hierarchy, such that the viewer can use the series of linkedtemplatized VOD displays as a “drill-down navigation” method to findspecific end content of interest.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a preferred embodiment of the templatized VODcontent delivery system is shown providing a User Interface usingDrill-Down Navigation through display ads, such as for automobileinfomercials. When the viewer selects a VOD application (channel), suchas “Wheels-On-Demand”, the viewer's TV displays a Main Menu with buttonsinviting the viewer to “Select Category”. The viewer can select an“Auto” category, and the TV then displays an “Auto” menu with buttonsinviting the viewer to “Select Make”, such as Make A, Make B, etc. Whenthe viewer makes a selection, such as Make A, the viewer's TV displays afurther menu that is a Gateway into templatized VOD content deliverywhich enables Drill-Down Navigation by templatized display ads. Throughthe Gateway, the VOD Application leaves the Menu mode and enters theDrill Down Navigation mode for successively displays ofhierarchically-ordered video content which allow the viewer to navigateto progressively more focused content. In this example, the highestlevel of the hierarchy includes categories for Model, Local Dealer,Sales Events, and/or Inventory. When the viewer selects a category suchas “Model” from the Gateway, for example, the VOD Application creates atemplatized ad display showing video content generic to all models bythat automaker framed in a frame which has links (buttons or choices)for a list of the specific models made by that automaker. When theviewer selects the link to a specific model, “Model A” for example, theVOD Application creates a templatized ad display showing video contentfor Model A, and the viewer can then choose to run a long-forminfomercial of the Model A video. Alternateively, the Drill-DownNavigation can continue with further levels of specificity, such as“Custom Packages”, “Options”, “Colors/Stylings”, etc. Similarly, theselection of the “Local Dealer” category from the Gateway can bring up atemplatized ad for local dealers with links to specific local dealers inthe viewer's cable service area, and a click on a specific “Dealer A”can bring up a templatized ad for Dealer A with further links to morespecific content pertaining to Dealer A, such as “Current SalesPromotions”, etc.

In this manner, the templatized VOD content delivery system allows theviewer to navigate to specific content of high interest to the viewerusing the Drill-Down ads as a navigation tool, while at the same timehaving a unique visual experience of moving through a series of adsmirroring the viewer's path to the subject of interest. The templatizedVOD ads are generated dynamically by searching the Content/Templatedatabase with each request by a viewer, enabling the system to displayupdated navigation choices and content simply by updating the databasewith updated links and video content. For example, if the Auto Makerchanges the Model types of autos currently available, or if Local DealerA changes its current sales promotions for autos currently available,that advertiser's ads can be updated with new, template frame navigationlinks and content, instead of entirely new ads or screen displays havingto be shot, produced, contracted, delivered, and programmed with thecable TV company. Many other types of layered or indepth ads, subjects,and interactive TV applications can be enabled with the use of theDrill-Down Navigation method. The selections or preferences exhibited byviewer navigation paths through the Drill-Down Navigation can also betracked, profiled, and/or targeted as feedback data to advertisers forfine-tuning Drill-Down Navigation designs.

In FIG. 1C, an example illustrates how a templatized VOD display isgenerated in layers. A Background screen provides a basic color, logo,or graphical theme to the display. A selected Template (display frame)appropriate to the navigation level the intended display resides on islayered on the Background. The Template typically has a frame in whichdefined areas are reserved for text, display image(s), and navigationlinks (buttons). Finally, the desired content constituted by associatedText, Image & Buttons is retrieved from the database and layered on theTemplate. The resulting screen display shows the combined backgroundlogo or theme, navigation frame, and text, video images, and buttons

Referring again to FIG. 1A, a Tracking System 15 of conventional typecan be installed at the Cable Head End to aggregate non-personal data onwhat channels and programs viewers watch. For the Drill Down Navigationmethod, the Tracking System 15 can include tracking of the navigationpaths viewers use to find subjects of interest in a VOD Application. Theaggregation of viewer navigation data can indicate what subjects aremost popular, whether some subjects are of greater interest to viewersat certain times of day, of certain demographics, or in relation tocertain products or services. The VOD Application Server 10 can exportthe aggregated viewer navigation data to an external Profiling System16, such as a non-biased or unrelated firm applying profile analysismethods. The results of the Profiling System 16 can be communicated to aTargeting System 17, such as a template design firm or contentproduction company, to fine-tune the presentation of the templatized VODcontent consistent with viewer preferences or interests. The feedbackfrom the Targeting System can be supplied as feedback to the VODApplication Server to modify the Content/Template Database 11.

Another application for the templatized VOD content delivery system canbe developed to support video advertisements which link national tolocal market ad campaigns in “drill-down” fashion. Advertisers, bothnational and local, can pay for placement of their video advertisementson the system. When the VOD Application is run, the national ads aredisplayed as a Gateway to linking to the local market ads. In thismanner, national ads can be used to transition viewers from generalinterest in a product to finding specific information about the productavailable locally.

The templatized VOD content delivery system can also support “trafficbuilding” videos, including music videos, that may not generate directrevenue. Once a video is encoded and registered into the system, themanagement and distribution of the video is conducted through softwaresystems and automated controls. The User Interface provides the userwith the ability to navigate and find desired video content. Selectionof a category presents the user with a list of video titles availablefor playback. Categories and title lists can be generated usingreal-time database queries, allowing for database-driven management ofcontent within the User Interface. The User Interface can also support asearch interface which allows the user to search the video contentdatabase to generate a list of video titles with specificcharacteristics.

As another aspect of the present invention, a VOD content deliverysystem may be adapted to offer consumer-generated classified ads on TV.The VOD content delivery system is provided with a Content Managementfrontend to receive consumer input and convert it to video display adsmaintained in the system database. Referring to FIG. 2A, a system formanaging, converting and displaying individual consumer-generated ads ona VOD content delivery system has a Web-based Content Management System40 for enabling an individual user to upload content from their computervia a web browser to display a consumer-generated video ad on TV. Theuploaded content includes meta data for classifying the video ad bytitle and topical area(s). A Content Screening System 41 is used forscreening the content input by the individual user, such as byperforming automatic searching for objectionable text, audio, videoand/or images and rejecting the content if found objectionable.

A Content Feed System 42 is used to automatically transferconsumer-generated content screened through the Content Screening System41 to a Content Conversion System 43. This system automatically convertsthe consumer-generated content supplied by the Content Feed System 42into video display format compatible with the VOD content deliverysystem. The converted video ad is indexed by title and classifiedtopical areas according to the meta data supplied by the user, inaccordance with the indexing system maintained by the Content ManagementSystem. The VOD Content Delivery System 44 operates a Classified Ads VODApplication in which menus for finding classified ads are navigated byviewers, and specific classified ads are delivered through the DigitalCable Television System for display as video ads on the viewer's TVequipment in response to viewer request input by remote control to theDigital Set Top Box 21, as described previously with respect to theoperation of the general VOD platform.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the Web-based Content Management System 40includes a plurality of functional components to allow consumers tocreate and manage their own classified ads as interactive televisioncontent, as well as pay for the distribution of their content within thedigital cable television system. A Classified Management Application 50is used to receive consumer-input content, have it screened (by theContent Screening System 41, not shown), and store it in the ClassifiedMetadata, Image and Video Database 51. Consumer payment for runningvideo ads is handled by the Transaction Processing Component 53. Alsoincluded in the Content Management System is an Account ManagementComponent 55 and Account & Permissions Database 56 for management ofuser accounts for use of the web-based TV Classified Ads system. ABulletin Board Ads application may be operated in parallel with the TVClassified Ads application. A Bulletin Board Management Application 54and Database 57 enable the creation and management of consumer-generatedcontent relating to public announcements and other items of generalinterest for groups, organizations or topics. The preferred VOD ContentDelivery System uses templatized VOD content, and a Template Library 58is used to store templates for both the Classified Ads and BulletinBoard Ads applications.

The Account Management Component controls the access by persons to theweb-based Content Management System. The Account Management Componentidentifies persons accessing the system for the first time and allowsthese persons to register and create an account by providing an accountname, password, credit card information and other information requiredfor the payment of fees. The Account Management Component controls theaccess by registered users to their accounts and manages the privilegesand security associated to all accounts. Persons may create accounts forthe creation and management of Classified Ads. Accounts capable ofaccessing the Bulletin Board Management Application may also be assignedby a system administrator in the Account Management Component. Anyaccount capable of accessing the Bulletin Board application can thencreate and manage bulletin board ads for the assigned bulletin boards.

The Classified Content Management System enables users to upload text,audio, video, and/or image files for classified ads in industry-standardfile formats and have it converted into video display ads compatiblewith the VOD Content Delivery System. Classified ads are searched on theviewer's TV equipment by menus and lists indexed by title and topicalareas corresponding to the metadata associated with the classified adscontent. Selection of a listed item results in the display of a TVdisplay ad containing uploaded text, images, video and/or audio. Userspay listing fees to the operator of the system for maintaining anddisplaying the classified ads on the digital cable television system.

Significant features of the Classified Ads Content Management Systeminclude: (a) the ability to enter descriptive data and text regardingthe item; (b) uploading digital images of the item to the ContentManagement System; (c) uploading digital video of the item to theContent Management System; (d) uploading digital audio regarding theitem to the Content Management System; (e) automated size and resolutionprocessing of digital images uploaded to the system; (f) automateddigital format conversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g)automated digital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to thesystem; (h) ability for users to select an interactive television screendesign (template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability toview on a web browser the interactive television template containing theconsumer-provided content; (j) ability to save classified content inpersistent memory or storage for subsequent modification; (k) ability tomark classified content as completed and ready for submission to theinteractive television system; (l) ability to specify the date and timewhen a classified content item is to become accessible by users of theinteractive television system and the data and time when a classifiedcontent item is to be removed from display on the interactive televisionsystem; (m) ability to notify the user through email or othercommunication system that a specific content item is scheduled to bedisplayed or removed from the interactive television system; (n) abilityto modify and resubmit previously created classified content for displayon the interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing datagenerated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specificconsumer-generated content by users of the interactive televisionsystem; and (p) ability to calculate fees for classified content andsubmit payment of the fees using the Transaction Processing system.

As noted in (i) above, the Classified Content Management System allowsthe user to view the content they have composed using the templates. Thetemplates are designed specifically for use on interactive televisionsystems and the user is able to view on the web-interface their contentas composed for presentation on television. As noted in (j) above, theClassified Content Management System allows the persistent storage ofclassified content; although the user is composing interactivetelevision pages using a template system, the content is persistentlystored as individual elements to simplify changes by the user and toallow the conversion of the content to different formats as required bydifferent interactive television systems.

The Bulletin Board Content Management System provides the users of theweb-based Content Management System with content creation and contentmanagement tools for the creation and maintenance of consumer-generatedcontent related to announcements and other informational items ofgeneral interest. Bulletin Board content is displayed on the interactivetelevision system as dedicated interactive television screens (bulletinboards), where approved groups, organizations or topics are eachassigned a bulletin board for the display of their information. BulletinBoard content is displayed as list items organized within a bulletinboard; selection of a list item results in the display of an interactivetelevision screen containing or providing access to the descriptivedata, text, images, video and audio regarding the item.

An alternative implementation of a Bulletin Board can display thecontent as scrolling text, where the user scrolls through the text, orthe text scrolls automatically. Bulletin Board accounts will pay feesdetermined by the operator of the system for the distribution of thebulletin board content on the interactive television system for displayon the digital cable television system. Significant features of theBulletin Board Content Management System include: (a) the ability toenter descriptive data and text regarding the item; (b) upload digitalimages to the content management; (c) upload digital video to thecontent management system; (d) upload digital audio to the contentmanagement system; (e) automated size and resolution processing ofdigital images uploaded to the system; (f) automated digital formatconversion of digital video uploaded to the system; (g) automateddigital format conversion of digital audio uploaded to the system; (h)ability for users to select an interactive television screen design(template) from a catalog of available templates; (i) ability to view ona web browser the interactive television template containing theconsumer-provided bulletin board content; (j) ability to save bulletinboard content in persistent memory or storage for subsequentmodification; (k) ability to mark bulletin board content as completedand ready for submission to the interactive television system; (l)ability to specify the date and time when specific bulletin boardcontent is to become accessible by users of the interactive televisionsystem and the data and time when specific bulletin board content is tobe removed from display on the interactive television system; (m)ability to notify the user through email or other communication systemthat specific bulletin board content is scheduled to be displayed orremoved from the interactive television system; (n) ability to modifyand resubmit previously created bulletin board content for display onthe interactive television system; (o) ability to access viewing datagenerated by the Tracking System regarding access and use of specificbulletin board content by users of the interactive television system;and (p) ability to calculate fees for bulletin board content and submitpayment of the fees in conjunction with the Transaction Processingcomponent.

The Transaction Processing component allows users of the ClassifiedContent Management System and Bulletin Board Content Management Systemto determine and pay for any fees resulting from their use of thesesystems. The Transaction Processing component will allow users to payfor fees using credit cards or other supported payment methods.Significant features of the Transaction Processing component include:(a) ability to maintain business rules for use by the TransactionProcessing system to determine fees based on user type and content type;(b) ability to maintain business rules for one or more payment methodsfor use by the Transaction Processing system in handling the settlementof fees; (c) ability to maintain business rules for user account andpayment settlement conditions such as delinquency and lack-of-credit foruse by the Transaction Processing system in determining user accountprivileges and content status; and, (d) ability to process payment offees in real-time for payment methods that support real-time settlement.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the Content Screening System (41) is comprised ofa Text Screening Application 60 which searches for objectionable wordsor phrases, an Image Screening Application 61 which searches forobjectionable graphic images, a Video Screening Application 62 whichsearches for objectionable images or audio words or phrases in videosegments, and an Audio Screening Application 63 which searches forobjectionable words or phrases in audio segments. The Content ScreeningSystem can be used for both Classified Ads content and Bulletin Boardcontent. Content that has been screened by the Content Screening Systemis then transferred to the aforementioned Classified Ads Database 51 orthe Bulletin Board Content Database 57. The system also has component 64for Editorial and Customer Service Functions for Classified Ads, andcomponent 65 similarly for Bulletin Board content. These can eachinclude an Email Function to send confirmations of input, reasons forrejection of posting, suggested corrections, further processing, andposting of content to consumers using the system.

Significant features of the Content Screening System include: (a)ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal words andphrases for use in the screening of text; (b) ability to performautomated analysis of user content text using the text library as aninput and alert system administration personnel to the use ofobjectionable or illegal content and the use of unknown and suspectwords or phrases; (c) ability to maintain a library of objectionable orillegal image elements for use in the screening of images; (d) abilityto perform automated image recognition analysis against user contentimages using the library of image elements as an input and alert systemadministration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content;(e) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal imageelements for use in the screening of video; (f) ability to performautomated image recognition analysis against user content video usingthe library of image elements as an input and alert systemadministration personnel to the use of objectionable or illegal content;(g) ability to maintain a library of objectionable or illegal audioelements for use in the screening of audio; (h) ability to performautomated audio analysis against user content audio using the library ofaudio elements as an input and alert system administration personnel tothe use of objectionable or illegal content; and (i) ability to savescreened content in persistent memory or storage for subsequentprocessing. Content Screening is automatically performed with theContent Management System 40 during the user process of submittingand/or creating consumer-generated content or may be performed as aprocess subsequent to the creation of content by the user.

Referring to FIG. 2D, the Content Feed System 42 and the ContentConversion System 43 provide for the transfer of user content from theContent Screening System and conversion to video content formatcompatible with the VOD Content Delivery System 44. The Content FeedSystem 42 has a Content Selection/Date Filtering Application whichselects consumer-generated content uploaded to the system that is withinthe dates contracted for posting and display of the content asClassified Ads or on Bulletin Boards. Content within the active daterange is transferred to the Active Classified Ads Database 71A or theActive Bulletin Board Database 71B.

The Content Conversion System receives consumer-generated content inindustry-standard formats or created in viewable format (HTML) on theweb-based input system and converts the content into formats compatiblewith the VOD Content Delivery System and for display on viewers'televisions. The Content Conversion System 43 has an Image ConversionApplication 72 which converts consumer-uploaded image files (inindustry-standard formats such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PDF, PPT, etc.)into VOD content format, a Video Conversion Application 73 whichconverts consumer-uploaded video files into VOD content format, and anAudio Conversion Application 74 which converts consumer-uploaded audiofiles into VOD content format. Content converted to VOD content formatis stored in the Active Converted Classified Ads Database 75A or theActive Converted Bulletin Board Database 75B. The content is subject toa further Production Push Function 76A, 76B and stored in the ProductionClassified Ads Database 77A or the Production Bulletin Board Database77B, if any presentation formatting, date stamping, template framing, orother system editing is required by the system.

Significant features of the Content Feed System include: (a) ability toselect user content for submission to the Content Conversion Systemthrough the testing of appropriate parameters including the date andtime information contained in the user content; (b) ability toappropriately package the elements of the user content to permit theefficient transfer of these content elements to the Content ConversionSystem through an Application Program Interface or other interface; (c)ability to create, maintain and execute a schedule for when the ContentFeed System will execute on an automatic basis for the automatictransfer of consumer-generated content to the Content Conversion System;and, (d) ability to execute the functions of the Content Feed System ona manual basis in the presence or absence of a schedule. The ContentFeed System may be able to package and distribute content to single ormultiple Content Conversion Systems.

Significant features of the Content Conversion system include: (a)ability to receive content packages delivered by the Content Feed Systemthrough an Application Program Interface or other interface; (b) abilityto process the elements of consumer-generated content into data, text,graphic, video and audio elements that are compatible with theinteractive television system and maintain the content presentationcreated by the user on the web-based Content Management System; (c)ability to save reformatted content in persistent memory or storage forsubsequent distribution and use by the interactive television system;and, (d) ability to inform the interactive television system thatconsumer-generated content is available for distribution and use. TheContent Conversion System may be added as a component system of the VODContent Delivery System, or it may be implemented as a wholly separatesystem that connects to the VOD Content Delivery System through anApplication Program Interface or other interface. When implemented as asystem that is separate from the VOD Content Delivery System, it ispossible to support multiple, different interactive television systemsby either (a) incorporating multiple formatting requirements into asingle instance of the Content Conversion System or (b) creatingmultiple Content Conversion Systems, each supporting the formattingrequirements for a specific interactive television system. Eitherimplementation allows for a single instance of consumer-generatedcontent that is created and maintained using the web-based ContentManagement System to be distributed and displayed on multiple, differentinteractive television systems with different formatting requirements.

The VOD Content Delivery System 44, as described previously, providesfor the distribution of screened, converted, properly formattedconsumer-generated content to viewers' televisions, typically throughthe use of digital set-top boxes connected to a digital cable televisionsystem capable of supporting real-time two-way data transfer between theset-top box and the Cable Head End. Significant features of the VODContent Delivery System include: (a) ability to receive properlyformatted content from the Content Conversion System; (b) ability todistribute said content over a digital cable television system anddisplay this content on television as an interactive televisionpresentation; (c) ability to receive user commands generated by aninfrared remote control device, keyboard or other device; (d) ability torespond to the user commands by displaying appropriate content orexecuting desired functionality; and, (e) ability to generate andcollect data regarding the user sessions and the viewing data regardingconsumer-generated content on the interactive television system and makethis data accessible to the Tracking System. The VOD Content DeliverySystem can employ templatized VOD content delivery, as describedpreviously with respect to FIG. 1A, enabling use of the Drill DownNavigation method in which viewers can navigate visually throughclassified ad hierarchical categories to specific titles or content.

The VOD Content Delivery System for the Classified Ads application canalso employ the Tracking System 15 for the collection and consolidationof viewing data generated by the interactive television system and thegeneration of reports against this viewing data. For example, theTracking System can track the number of viewer requests for viewing thata classified ad received in a given period and calculate billing chargesaccordingly. The Tracking System can make this information available tousers of the Content Management System as well as to systemadministrative personnel performing general analysis of interactivetelevision services and associated content. Significant features of theTracking System include: (a) ability to access and process the datagenerated by the Classified Ads application; (b) ability to formsummaries of the viewing data against desired parameters; (c) ability tosave data, summaries and reports in persistent memory or storage forsubsequent modification or access; (d) ability to make data, summariesand reports accessible by users of the web-based Content ManagementSystem, restricting the data accessible by any specific user to dataregarding the content created by that user account on the ContentManagement System; and, (e) ability to make data, summaries and reportsaccessible by to system administration personnel.

As another aspect of the present invention, implementation of a VODcontent delivery system can be made on any digital television systemthat supports real-time two-way data transfer and interactivity betweenthe digital Set Top Box and application servers and VOD servers locatedat headends or other service points within the television systemnetwork. An alternative digital television system of increasingimportance in the marketplace is Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).IPTV is a system for delivering video content, both broadcast and Videoon Demand, to digital set top boxes and other devices. IPTV and digitalcable both transmit digital video in packetized data streams withinclosed, proprietary broadband systems; however, IPTV uses InternetProtocol (IP) to structure, route and deliver the digital video packetswithin an IPTV system.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative implementation for a VOD contentdelivery system is illustrated for an IPTV system. The components of theVOD content delivery system listed in the figure are similar to those inFIG. 1A. However, FIG. 3 illustrates the terminology and networkarchitecture of an IPTV system as used for the purposes of thisinvention. The VOD Application Server 10, Content/Template Database 11,Video Server 12 and Tracking System 15 are located in the IPTV ServiceNode; the IPTV Service Node is equivalent to the Cable Headend in FIG.1A. Systems external to the IPTV Service Node such as the ApplicationData Center 30, Profiling System 16, Targeting System 17 and VideoContent Distribution Network 14 connect to their associated VOD ContentDelivery System components housed within the IPTV Service Node inmanners similar to those used in a digital cable system implementation.IPTV systems can use multiple network technologies within their closed,proprietary broadband network. Core and Access Network 78 arehigh-bandwidth networks connecting IPTV Service Nodes in order tosupport the central transport of video streams. The Core and AccessNetwork 78 feed the Customer Access Network 79, which supports thephysical network connection into the customer premise and connects tothe IPTV Digital Set Top Box 80. The combination of the Core and AccessNetwork 78 and Customer Access Network 79 is the functional equivalentof the Digital Cable Television System 13 in FIG. 1A.

In operation, the VOD Content Delivery System implementation for IPTV isidentical to the digital cable implementation. The VOD ApplicationServer 10 operates a VOD application for the IPTV system, for example,“automobile infomercials on demand”. The viewer sends a request forselected VOD content, such as to see an infomercial on a specific modeltype made by a specific auto manufacturer, by actuating a viewer requestsignal by a key press on the viewer's remote control unit transmittingan IR signal to the IPTV Digital Set Top Box 80 that is sent on asIP-encapsulated message through the IPTV System to the VOD ApplicationServer 10 at the IPTV Service Node. In response to the signal, the VODApplication Server 10 determines the VOD content being requested andretrieves the infomercial ad display template from the Template Database11 and video content segment from the Video Server 12, in order togenerate the corresponding templatized VOD content. In the invention,the templates are of different types ordered in a hierarchy, and displayof content in a template of a higher order includes links the viewer canselect to content of a lower order in the hierarchy. Upon selecting alink using the remote control, the VOD Application Server 10 retrievesthe template and video content of lower order and displays it to theviewer. Each successive templatized display may have further links tosuccessively lower levels of content in the hierarchy, such that theviewer can use the series of linked templatized VOD displays as a“drill-down navigation” method to find specific end content of interest.

Similarly, all previously mentioned adaptations of the VOD ContentDelivery System implementation for digital cable, such as Classified Adsand Bulletin Boards, are supported identically on IPTV implementations.

Wide Ranging Content Uploadable via Internet to Digital TV VOD Platform

In the foregoing description, the uploading, management, conversion, anddisplay of content uploaded from the Internet for viewing on a VODplatform was described for an embodiment in which consumer-generatedclassified ads and other TV-displayable information of interest areuploaded via Internet for conversion and display as video programs oncable TV infrastructure. Even further, the principles of the inventionare applicable to a wide range of other content uploadable on theInternet and to other types of digital television service providers suchas DSL telephone lines, local area broadband networks, and wirelessbroadband networks. In the following description, another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is described with respect touploading wide ranging content via Internet for viewing on the VODplatforms of any type of digital TV system.

Referring to FIG. 4, informational/media content from any Content Sourcecan be uploaded via Internet to a Digital TV System for placement on itsVideo-on-Demand (VOD) Platform to be viewable as TV programs on Viewers'TVs by selection from an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) transmitted viathe viewer's Set Top Box for display on the TV. Content is uploaded byan author or publisher to the Web-based Content Management System 40,which processes the content through a Content Feed System 42 and ContentConversion System 43 (from standard digital data formats to TV videoformat) to the VOD Content Delivery System 44 where it is stored in itsassociated Video Content Database 45 for retrieval upon viewer request.Uploaded TV programs are offered to viewers by listing them on the EPG,and upon viewer selection via the Set Top Box, are delivered via theDigital TV System infrastructure.

For VOD platforms, an EPG is typically presented to viewers as a programguide displayed on the TV for finding a title of interest associatedwith that particular VOD channel. The EPG display typically starts witha top level menu offering broad categories of content, e.g., Movies,Documentaries, TV Shows, News, Sports, Community Events, Self-Help,Infomercials, etc. The viewer can cursor through the categories andselect a category by moving the cursor to a desired category title, suchas “News”, and clicking the “Select” key on the remote control unit. TheEPG then brings up the next display of subcategories available in theselected category. For the “News” category, it might displaysubcategories of “ABC”, “NBC”, “CBS”, “CNN”, “MSNBC”, “AnywhereReports”, etc. Upon selecting “Anywhere Reports”, the EPG would thendisplay the next level of subcategories down, e.g., “San Francisco”,“Los Angeles”, “Denver”, “Dallas”, “Chicago”, “Boston”, “New York”,“D.C.”, etc. This sequence continues until the viewer selects a programtitle or exits the EPG.

The EPGs for VOD “channels” thus use program guide displays on the TVwhich are in a structured hierarchy to allow the viewer to navigate to aprogram title of interest. Upon selecting the title, a data returnassociated with that title is sent from the set-top box as a request tothe VOD platform for the program associated with that title. The EPGdatabase of the VOD platform maintains an index linking the programtitles to the addresses in the VOD Content Database 45 where therespective programs are stored. Upon receiving a request of a programtitle from the set-top box, the VOD Content Delivery System 40 retrievesthe corresponding video content from the Database and transmits it onits broadband network to the set-top box that sent the request. AdvancedVOD platforms also have VCR or DVR-like functions that enable a viewerto Pause, Play, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Stop a program using the TVremote control unit.

As more and more video content is offered on VOD platforms of digital TVsystems, it may be desirable to dynamically adjust the EPG displays ofcategories, subcategories, and titles for each viewer so as to minimizethe number of remote control keypresses needed to navigate to a programtitle of interest. Such a system is disclosed in a concurrentcontinuation-in-part U.S. Patent Application by the same inventor,entitled “Dynamic Adjustment of Electronic Program Guide Displays Basedon Viewer Preferences for Minimizing Navigation in VOD ProgramSelection”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In the present invention, the EPG hierarchical display structure used inVOD platforms is used as a form of “hierarchical addressing” thatuniquely allows viewer navigation to and identifies a program title ofinterest. This EPG hierarchical addressing scheme can be represented asa string of category term, subcategory term(s), and title that together(as a string delimited by standard character delimiters) uniquelyidentifying each program offered on the EPG channel. In FIG. 4, forexample, the EPG address for a program title on the VOD channel might berepresented with a TV (EPG) address as:

TV:/News/Anywhere Reporting/New York/Financial/“Live from NYSE by JimCramer”

The uploaded content may be of any digital media type and come from anyweb-based source. For the TV viewing environment, content accompanied byvideo images and voice and/or sound is preferred for presentation asentertainment or recreational viewing. Such content can be generatedubiquitously from any PC computer by an author or publisher using avideo or webcam for images and a microphone for audio. The media streamsmay be edited and composed with a multimedia program, such as MicrosoftWindows™ Media, Apple Quicktime™, Macromedia Flash™, and others.Similarly, the content may already be composed as a video program andposted on a website as a downloadable video program via a web link orother URL address. For example, websites like YouTube.com,Brightcove.com, and others have become very popular by offeringthousands of self-published video programs by nonprofessional authorsand publishers for viewing on the Internet. Such video content may alsobe uploaded from digital media devices such as iPod™ Video sold by AppleComputer Corp. on which it has already been downloaded from a website.It may also be uploaded from digital phone devices such as iPhone™ soldby Apple which has an on-board camera for video and microphone forsound.

The term “Internet” is intended to include any wide area digital networkor network of networks connecting a universe of users via a common orindustry-standard (TCP/IP) protocol. Users having a connection to theInternet commonly connect browsers on their computing terminal or deviceto websites that provide informational content via web servers. TheInternet can also be connected to other networks using different datahandling protocols through a gateway or system interface, such aswireless gateways using the industry-standard Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) to connect Internet websites to wireless data networks.Wireless data networks are being deployed worldwide and allow usersanywhere to connect to the Internet via wireless data devices.

The Digital TV System in FIG. 4 can be of any type that supportsvideo-on-demand programming to TV viewers on any suitable type of VODplatform (infrastructure). While it may be a Cable TV system asdescribed previously, it may be any type of digital TV system providingTV services via a high-speed data connection to the viewer's TV. Forexample, it may be an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) system of the typeconnected to home subscribers via phone DSL lines, cable or otherhigh-speed, high-bitrate connections. As previously described withrespect to FIG. 3, the IPTV system can support video-on-demand TVservices to TV viewers on a scale that cannot be supported by Internetvideo websites. The Internet is not an infinitely scalable resource, andplacing a burden such as high-bitrate, high definition, full-screenvideo streams in any significant volume can overwhelm the Internet inits present form. IPTV transmits video programs in digital format usingthe IP protocol, but instead of transmitting over common Internetconnections, it transmits over high-speed, high-bitrate connections thatare envisioned to be implemented ultimately as all-fiber optical “lastmile” connection to the home.

In the present invention, content can be uploaded (manually or byautomatic feed) via the Internet to the Web-based Content ManagementSystem 40 of a Digital TV System and automatically converted, navigatedand selected/displayed on the VOD platform for viewing on home TV.Automatic navigation, selection and display is enabled by adopting thesame EPG hierarchical addressing scheme used for the VOD program guideas the addressing metadata identifying content uploaded on the Internet.When an author or publisher connects to the Web-based Content ManagementSystem 40, the author or publisher selects the category term,subcategory term(s) and title by which it is desired to find the programtitle in the TV EPG display hierarchy. Thus, when the above-mentionedexample of a video program is uploaded, the hierarchical address forthat program would be selected as:

TV:/News/Anywhere Reporting/New York/Financial/“Live from NYSE by JimCramer”.

This hierarchical addressing metadata is associated with or tagged tothe content when uploaded to the Web-based Content Management System 40,and is carried over into the VOD/EPG navigation scheme displayed on theTV. By carrying over the hierarchical address metadata into EPGnavigation, the invention allows the content to be automatically listedin the EPG under the common addressing scheme to enable viewers to findany program of interest. The hierarchical addressing string of termsresembles URL addressing commonly used on the Internet. Thus, Internetusers can readily become familiar with finding TV programs on the VODEPG guide due to its resemblance to finding web resources with a URL.Indeed, in the convergence of Internet and TV worlds, a TV EPGhierarchical address may be thought of as a URL for a TV program.

The uploaded content is converted, as previously described, into astandard TV digital format, and a “local instance” thereof is stored atan assigned VID address in the Video Content Database 45 of the VODplatform. The VID address is linked to the metadata title for the videocontent listed in the EPG. The hierarchical address for the title isautomatically carried over into the EPG navigation scheme, and can befound by a viewer cursoring (with the TV remote control) through the EPGfollowing the same hierarchical addressing sequence. Upon the subscriberselecting, via a remote control unit in communication with the set-topbox, the title of the video content from the hierarchically-arrangedcategories and subcategories in the EPG, a return request for theselected title is transmitted to the VOD platform for retrieving thevideo content at the linked VID address in the Video Content Database.The requested video program is then retrieved and transmitted by the VODContent Delivery System 44 through the digital TV lines to thesubscriber's set-top box for display on the subscriber's TV.

By the method of the present invention, the title and hierarchicaladdress assigned by the publisher of the program is automaticallycarried over into the TV electronic program guide (EPG) following thesame hierarchical addressing indicated by the publisher of the content.The publisher selects categories and subcategories for categorizing thetitle of the video content from the EPG categorization scheme presentedby the digital television service provider for the listing of titles onone of its VOD channels. With this method, vast numbers of contentpublishers anywhere on the Internet can upload their programs with aminimum of conversion and handling steps by the digital televisionservice provider. Home TV viewers can then easily use the EPGhierarchical navigation scheme to find something of interest forviewing.

Digital TV service providers can thus greatly expand the contentviewable on the VOD platform from studio-generated programs and cannedadvertisements to an infinite universe of authors and publishersconnected to upload viewable content to their system via the Internet.For example, local content can be created and published by people in aservice area's local community—its independent filmmakers, its collegestudents and professors, its civic leaders and others—to provideprogramming for TV. Providing a vehicle for “citizen content” or“citizen journalism” to be seen on TV is expected to tap into theboundless resourcefulness and creativity of the TV audience itself andenable nonprofessionals to become part of the TV content-creatingprocess. Such citizen content creators and journalists can createcontent that would otherwise not rise to the level of interest forstudios to create programs for them or be overlooked by larger mediaoutlets.

While it may take time for the TV-viewing public to become comfortablewith searching for and viewing programs from a plethora of newnonprofessional content, an intermediate stage of demand fornonprofessional content from wide new audiences are the so-calledblogging or podcasting programs that have become popular on the Internetor by Internet downloading. Such programs are typically created by anauthor or publisher that has already achieved popular recognitionthrough word-of-mouth or user rave reviews. The equivalent to theblogger or podcaster on the Internet is the “host” or “celebrity” on theTV. The Host provides a recognized face on TV and is relied upon byhis/her audience to provide trusted commentary as a filter, reviewer,rater, and/or analyst of information of value. In the present invention,TV programs created by whole new cadres of non-studio or non-networkHosts and other “self-publishers” can be uploaded via Internet forviewing on TV.

Besides a single video segment, an uploaded program may instead belayered in successive hierarchies of segments that can provide viewerswith a “drill-down” experience similar to the “drill-down” video adimmersion experience described previously. For example, in FIG. 5, ahosted video blog show has a Host in a presentation segment (topmost inhierarchy) presenting a topic, such as “Live from NYSE, by Jim Cramer”.The Host can then direct viewers to click on an on-screen menu ofchoices to select more detailed topical segments, for example, Key “A”for “S&P 500”, Key “B” for “NASDAQ”, and Key “C” for “CommoditiesMarkets”. Upon clicking on Key “B” for “NASDAQ”, the VOD systemretrieves the video segment “/Live from NYSE by Jim Cramer/NASDAQ” anddisplays that video segment to the viewer. The topical segment may haveother layers of subtopical segments, for example, Key “A” for “/Feature:Apple Computer”, Key “B” for “/Feature: Google”, and Key “C” for“/Feature: Microsoft”, and so on. As a preferred mode of implementation,the hierarchical video segments are presented and linked in templatizedVOD displays, as previously described with respect to FIG. 1C, with themenu of options displayed as buttons on the template frame. In the samemanner, the Host can also serve to link the viewer to other Hostprograms or other VOD-listed programs by an on-screen menu of optionsselectable by keys on the remote control unit.

As an added feature, the above-described VOD EPG with titles categorizedin the hierarchical addressing scheme of categories and subcategoriescan be configured to enable a viewer to store bookmarks for desiredVOD-listed TV programs for viewing again or sharing with friends. FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating the logic flow for using an EPG to enable aviewer to store TV bookmarks for desired VOD-listed TV programs. In Step601, the viewer selects (highlights) a video content title in the EPG tobe bookmarked and enters the key for the on-screen option “StoreBookmarks”. In Step 602, a prompt requests the viewer to enter apreviously registered Personal Identification Number (PIN) identifyingthat user, and upon the user entering the PIN number and pressing the“Select” or “Enter” key, the VOD system checks to validate the user'sPIN with the registered users for that set top box address.

Upon validating the user, in Step 603, a menu of options is displayed,from which the viewer can select “Bookmark it now”. Other optionsinclude B: “Send TV Friend, C: “Related Programs”, and D: “BibliographicInformation”. Option B: “Send TV Friend is discussed further below.Option C: “Related Programs” is an option where the VOD system cansuggest titles related to the one highlighted by the viewer for browsingfor further interest. Option D: “Bibliographic Information” allows theviewer to read background information on the highlighted title. Uponbookmarking, in Step 604, the VOD system confirms the bookmark bydisplaying the latest bookmarked title at the top of the list ofbookmarked titles entered by the user. Other options are presented forthe viewer to manage the list of bookmarks, such as A: “Play”, B:“Delete”, C: “Clear All”, D: “Send to Net” (described further below).

In order to provide functionality to share video programs with a friend,the VOD system can also enable a viewer to share bookmarks with a friendwho is also a TV subscriber in the same service area of the digital TVservice provider. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of sharingTV bookmarks with other subscribers via an on-screen Contact Listmaintained for the viewer. In Step 603 of FIG. 6, the viewer can selectoption “B” to “Send TV Friend”, and the VOD system in Step 701 displaysoptions for selecting the viewer's TV friends to receive bookmarks,including A: Select from directory, B: Select from Contact List returns,and C: Select Group.

If option “A” in Step 701 is selected, the VOD system displays in Step702 a directory of subscriber names in that service area which can bescrolled through using an on-screen keyboard to input the beginningletters of last names. Upon the viewer entering the beginning letters ofa last name, the directory jumps to the section listing those names andshows the first names or User ID names for any previously registered“User A”, “User B”, etc., for the bookmarking service. The viewer canthen select the other TV subscriber the bookmark is to be sent to, andthen click option A: “Send” or B: “Add to List & Send”. In option “B”,the highlighted name is automatically added to the viewer's Contact List(see following). If option “B” in Step 701 was selected, the VOD systemdisplays in Step 703 an alphabetical Contact List of subscribernames/users previously entered (or automatically added by sending) bythe viewer. The viewer can highlight the friend's name/user, and clickA: “Send”. Other options include B: “Delete” and C: “Add to Groups”. Ifoption “C” in Step 701 was selected, the VOD system displays in Step 704a listing of Groups (by number) having individual names/users previouslyentered by the viewer.

As a further TV-controlled functionality to share video programs with afriend, the VOD system can also enable a viewer to share bookmarks withother friends and contacts on the Internet. This requires traversing theboundary between the digital TV service and the Internet. FIG. 8 is adiagram illustrating an example of sharing TV bookmarks with othersonline by transmission of bookmark data to the viewer's email address.If the viewer selected option “D” in Step 701 of FIG. 7, the VOD systemdisplays a list of previously entered email addresses entered for thesubscriber household, and also an input box for a new or changed emailaddress. Upon highlighting or entering the intended email recipient andclicking “Send” in Step 801, the request from the viewer's set top boxis returned to the Digital TV System and routed to the Web-based ContentManagement System 40 or other web-based server with Internetconnectivity for sending the TV bookmark(s) to the indicated emailaddress which is received and accessed on the recipient's PC or otheremail-enabled device.

Going from Internet to the TV, in Step 802, a PC user can share TVbookmarks received by email on the PC with other contacts and friendswhose email addresses are maintained in an address book or contact liston that person's email client. The PC user can also send TV bookmarksfound in searching a website for program listings offered by the DigitalTV System to their own Viewer Bookmarks file(s) or to those of other TVsubscribers. The PC user simply logs on via Internet to the Web-basedContent Management Server 40 for the Digital TV System and selects anoption to send the TV bookmark(s) to the Viewer's Bookmark file(s) 604for that person's subscriber name/user, or to the name/user of any otherTV subscriber.

The capability for Internet uploading and automatic listing in any VODEPG opens VOD programming in digital TV systems to greatly expandedaudiences of non-studio, non-professional video authors and publishers.The new publishers also become new viewers, reviewers, commentators, andcelebrities to accelerate the “network effect” of expanded viewing onTV. The digital TV service provider can charge smaller but greatlymultiplied VOD program placement fees to the new audiences ofnon-studio, non-professional video authors and publishers. Programs thatrise above the crowd due to popularity may attract advertising andsponsorships placements that provide additional revenues for the digitalTV service provider and the publisher. With fixture expansion of VOD“channel” capacity, the system can be opened to broad masses of“citizen” publishers. Popular “blogs”, “themes”, “social networks”, or“knowledge networks” created on VOD channels may attract advertising andsponsorships to the digital TV service provider. The placement feescharged for the broad masses of other programs may be reduced orenhanced by “carve backs” funded by automatic digital ad insertions or“pre-rolls” inserted before the program and paid to the publisher. Thedigital TV service provider can provide value-added services topublishers justifying program placement fees or revenue-sharing of paidadvertising by maintaining “dynamic accounts” for publishers trackingnumber of views, popularity, length of placement, paid advertisingspots, carve back payments, etc. Expanded VOD viewing also can generateadditional revenue streams for the digital TV service provider fromviewers through gigabyte download fees or by “Premium (VOD) Services”(upper viewer tier) fees.

The extension of TV VOD programming to citizen publishing, and theconvergence of Internet searching with sharing of TV program bookmarks,can also stimulate diverse new content publishing sources and supportinghardware and equipment in the converged Internet-TV universe. Forexample, TV EPGs can be exported to via Internet to Internet-connecteddigital devices, including digital phones, media players, game sonsoles,Video iPods™, PDAs, etc., and conversely, TV bookmarks selected fromEPGs on the Internet can be imported back into the viewer's “MyEPG” or“MyVideoLibrary” for their TV through the Web-based Content ManagementSystem. This would enable people to freely select, save, bookmark, andshare TV programs with friends and contacts between their TV viewingenvironment and their daily mobile or away-from-home environments.Internet-connected DVRs, such as those sold by TiVo, or virtual DVRsoffered by the digital TV service provider can also connect Internetsearching and bookmark sharing to the viewer's “MyEPG” or“MyVideoLibrary” for VOD program viewing.

In the above description, a VOD “channel” is a term commonly used forthe mechanism by which users access and view VOD content. “Channel”historically refers to linear broadcast channels, and VOD by definitionis a non-linear, on-demand experience. When a user accesses a VOD“channel” on a digital television system, they are accessing a digital“virtual channel”, where the tuning of the channel number triggers thedigital set top box to load and execute an interactive application thatis presented on the television. This application will present thecategories, subcategories and titles of VOD content that is availablefor viewing. The user navigates through the application using the remotecontrol, traversing the hierarchy used to organize the VOD content. Whenthe user selects a VOD title for playback, the digital VOD content istransmitted from a VOD server to the set top box using a dedicated datastream. The actual mechanisms for transmission vary for differentdigital television system technologies, but in all cases the stream isunicast to the specific set top box. The set top box receives anddecodes the data stream and presents the VOD content on the television.A digital television system can support many VOD “channels”, where each“channel” is an interactive application that offers VOD content that hasbeen grouped together by topic, sponsor, content producer or otherattributes. As available bandwidth increases in digital televisionsystems, there will be an increase in quantity of the VOD “channels”available to the user, as content producers migrate from the linearbroadcast format to the non-linear on-demand format. Correspondingly, asthe processing power of set top boxes increases, combined with greaternetwork bandwidth, the sophistication of the interactive applicationssupporting VOD “channels” will increase, offering enhanced ways forinteracting with the content and the producer, as well as offer relatedcontent and materials, transactions and other methods for engaging theuser more completely with the content.

It is understood that many modifications and variations may be devisedgiven the above description of the principles of the invention. It isintended that all such modifications and variations be considered aswithin the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in thefollowing claims.

1. A method for automatically enabling the converting, navigating anddisplaying of video content from a video content provider on an openonline network to a discrete digital TV service provider network whichis of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened andpre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV servicesubscribers inputting keypresses on their TV remote control units toset-top boxes connected to their TV equipment, which predetermined videocontent is listed by title for selection from an electronic programguide for a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a the discrete digital TVservice provider comprising: (a) enabling the uploading of video contentin a digital video format via an online network to a Web-based contentmanagement server that is connected to the VOD platform of the discretedigital TV service provider network, along with a title and ahierarchical address of hierarchically-arranged categories andsubcategories as metadata for categorizing a hierarchical ordering forthe title for the video content; (b) converting the content uploaded tothe Web-based content management server into a standard TV digitalformat used by the discrete digital TV service provider network andstoring a “local instance” thereof at a video ID (VID) address in avideo content database of the VOD platform, wherein the VID address islinked to the title for the video content; (c) listing the title of thevideo content in an electronic program guide for the VOD platform of thediscrete digital TV service provider using the samehierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories as used in theuploaded metadata for the hierarchical address for the video content inthe electronic program guide of the VOD platform; (d) providing a TVservice subscriber, having a TV-equipment-connected set-top boxconnected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV serviceprovider network, with access to the electronic program guide for theVOD platform for navigating through the hierarchically-arranged titlesof video content by categories and subcategories therein in order tofind the title of the video content desired for viewing on their TVequipment; and (e) upon the TV service subscriber selecting, via theirTV remote control unit in communication with the set-top box, the titlefor the video content from the hierarchically-arranged categories andsubcategories of the electronic program guide, and the set-top boxtransmitting a request for the selected title to the VOD platform, thenenabling retrieval of the selected video content stored at the VIDaddress in the video content database of the VOD platform linkedthereto, and transmission of the selected video content to the TVservice subscriber's set-top box for display on the TV servicesubscriber's TV equipment.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein thevideo content is uploaded to the Web-based content management serverconnected to the VOD platform of the discrete digital TV serviceprovider network from a computer user's computer connected to the onlinenetwork.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video content isuploaded to the Web-based content management server connected to the VODplatform of the discrete digital TV service provider network from a URLlink to a website address from which the video content is accessible. 4.A method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical address used inthe uploaded metadata for the video content comprises a string ofcategory and subcategory terms and the title delimited by standarddelimiters that uniquely identifies the video content and its locationfor listing in the hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategoriesof the electronic program guide.
 5. A method according to claim 1,wherein the video content is a hosted type of TV program presented by a“host” figure which displays program viewing options to TV servicesubscribers for viewing hosted video program segments arranged inhierarchical ordering with the hosted TV program.
 6. A method accordingto claim 5, wherein the hosted TV program is layered in hierarchicallayers of video segments, each layer being linked by option linkagesfrom a previous layer, for successive viewing of layers in order toprovide viewers with a “drill-down” TV viewing experience of the hostedTV program.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronicprogram guide enables the TV service subscriber to store thehierarchical address for a TV program listed in the electronic programguide as a “bookmark” for again viewing the TV program.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the electronic program guide provides theTV service subscriber with a bookmark storing function accessable uponentry of a viewer ID.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein thebookmark storing function enables the TV service subscriber to send abookmark to the bookmark storing function of another TV servicesubscriber to the discrete digital TV service provider network.
 10. Amethod according to claim 8, wherein the bookmark storing functionenables the TV service subscriber to send a request to the VOD platformof the discrete digital TV service provider network to have a bookmarksent by the Web-based content management server as email to the emailaddress of a contact addressable on the online network.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the bookmark storing function enables theviewer to receive and store a bookmark received by the Web-based contentmanagement server from email sent by a contact on the online network.